Thin-film solar module

Abstract

A thin-film solar module consists of a number of solar cells tandem mounted and series-connected on a common substrate and a number of diodes disposed antiparallel and adjacent thereto. Overlap zones are formed by a projecting edge area of an electrode layer of a solar cell or diode engaging a recess of the corresponding electrode layer of the adjacent diode or solar cell. Each diode is connected in the reverse direction with the adjacent solar cell in at least two overlap zones, the front electrode layer of the diode with the back electrode layer of the solar cell in at least one of said overlap zones, and the back electrode layer of the diode with the front electrode layer of the solar cell in at least one other overlap zone. The photovoltaically active layer sequence is additionally separated by grooves in areas of the grooves of the back electrode layer.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A solar cell module formed from integrated thin-film technology having a plurality of solar cells tandem mounted and series-connected on a common substrate and a plurality of diodes tandem mounted and series-connected on the common substrate, the diodes being parallel and adjacent to the solar cells, the solar cells and the diodes each having a front electrode layer, a back electrode layer and an intermediate photovoltaically active layer located between the front and back electrode layers, wherein: 
       the front electrode layers of the solar cells and the diodes are bonded to the substrate and the individual back electrode layers of the solar cells and the diodes are separated by grooves;  
       the front and back electrode layers of adjacent diodes are not directly electrically connected to each other;  
       a plurality of overlap zones are formed by projecting edge areas of the electrode layers of the solar cells or diodes wherein:  
       each overlap zone of a solar cell electrode layer engages in a recess in the corresponding electrode layer of the adjacent diode: and  
       each overlap zone of a diode electrode layer engages in a recess in the corresponding electrode layer of the adjacent solar cell  
       so that:  
       the overlap zones formed by the front electrode layers overlap subadjacent zones of the back electrode layers of the adjacent diode or solar cell that the front electrode layer overlap zones engage; or  
       the overlap zones formed by the back electrode layers overlap superadjacent zones of the front electrode layers of the adjacent diode or solar cell that the back electrode overlap zones engage;  
       each diode is connected to a reverse bias orientation to the adjacent solar cell in at least two overlap zones, wherein:  
       in a first one of the overlap zones, the front electrode layer of the diode is electrically connected to the back electrode of the adjacent solar cell; and  
       in a second one of the overlap zones, the back electrode layer of the diode is electrically connected to the front electrode layer of the adjacent solar cell; and  
       the photovoltaically active layers forming of the individual solar cells and diodes are separated from each other by grooves that are in registration with the grooves that separate the back electrode layers.  
     
     
       2. The solar cell module according to claim  1 , wherein, both of the overlap zones of at least one of the diodes and the adjacent solar cell are formed by projecting edge areas and recesses of the matching electrode layer. 
     
     
       3. The solar cell module according to claim  2 , wherein the electric contact between the front and back electrode layers in the overlap zones is effected through openings in the photovoltaically active layers. 
     
     
       4. The solar cell module according to claim  1 , wherein, for at least one of the diodes and the adjacent said solar cell, one of the overlap zones is formed by a projecting edge area and a recess of the front electrode layers of the diode and the adjacent solar cell, and the second one of the overlap zones is formed by a projecting edge area and a recess of the back electrode layers of the diode and the adjacent solar cell. 
     
     
       5. The solar cell module according to claim  4 , wherein the electric contact between the front and back electrode layers in the overlap zones is effected through openings in the photovoltaically active layers. 
     
     
       6. The solar cell module according to claim  1 , wherein the electric contacts between the front and back electrode layers in the overlap zones is effected through openings in the photovoltaically active layers. 
     
     
       7. The solar cell module according to claim  6 , wherein the electric contacts through the openings in the photovoltaically active layer are established by segments of the back electrode layers that extend down to the surface of the front electrode layers. 
     
     
       8. The solar cell module according to claim  1 , wherein the diodes are shielded from illumination by an opaque cover. 
     
     
       9. The solar cell module of claim  1 , wherein the grooves separating the back electrode layers and the grooves separating the photovoltaically active layers are the same width. 
     
     
       10. A solar cell module formed from integrated thin-film technology having a plurality of solar cells tandem mounted and series connected on a common substrate and a plurality of diodes tandem mounted and series-connected on the common substrate, the diodes being parallel and adjacent to the solar cells, the solar cells and the diodes each having a front electrode layer, a back electrode layer and an intermediate photovoltaically active layer located between the front and back electrode layers, wherein: 
       the back electrode layers of the solar cells and the diodes are bonded to the substrate and the individual front electrode layers of the solar cells and the diodes are separated from each other by grooves;  
       the front and back electrode layers of adjacent diodes are not directly electrically connected to each other;  
       a plurality of overlap zones are formed by projecting edge areas of the electrode layers of the solar cells or diodes wherein:  
       each overlap zone of a solar cell electrode layer engages in a recess in the corresponding electrode layer of the adjacent diode: and  
       each overlap zone of a diode electrode layer engages in a recess in the corresponding electrode layer of the adjacent solar cell  
       so that:  
       the overlap zones formed by the front electrode layers overlap subadjacent zones of the back electrode layers of the adjacent diode or solar cell that the front electrode layer overlap zones engage; or  
       the overlap zones formed by the back electrodes overlap superadjacent zones of the front electrode layers of the adjacent diode or solar cell that the back electrode overlap zones engage;  
       each diode is connected to a reverse bias orientation to the adjacent solar cell in at least two overlap zones, wherein:  
       in a first one of the overlap zones, the front electrode layer of the diode is electrically connected to the back electrode of the adjacent solar cell; and  
       in a second one of the overlap zones, the back electrode layer of the diode is electrically connected to the front electrode layer of the adjacent solar cell; and  
       the photovoltaically active layers forming of the individual solar cells and diodes are separated from each other by grooves that are in registration with the grooves that separate the front electrode layers.  
     
     
       11. The solar cell module according to claim  10 , wherein, both of the overlap zones of at least one of the diodes and the adjacent said solar cell are formed by projecting edge areas and recesses of the matching electrode layer. 
     
     
       12. The solar cell module according to claim  11 , wherein the electric contact between the front and back electrode layers in the overlap zones is effected through openings in the photovoltaically active layers. 
     
     
       13. The solar cell module according to claim  10 , wherein, for at least one of the diodes and the adjacent solar cell, one of the overlap zones is formed by a projecting edge area and a recess of the front electrode layers of said diode and said adjacent solar cell, and the second one of the overlap zones is formed by a projecting edge area and a recess of the back electrode layers of the diode and the adjacent solar cell. 
     
     
       14. The solar cell module according to claim  13 , wherein the electric contact between the front and back electrode layers in the overlap zones is effected through openings in the photovoltaically active layers. 
     
     
       15. The solar cell module according to claim  10 , wherein the electric contacts between the front and back electrode layers in the overlap zones is effected through openings in the photovoltaically active layers. 
     
     
       16. The solar cell module according to claim  15 , wherein the electric contacts through the openings in the photovolataically active layer are established by segments of the front electrode layers that extend down to the surface of the back electrode layers. 
     
     
       17. The solar cell module according to claim  10 , wherein the diodes are shielded from illumination by an opaque cover. 
     
     
       18. The solar cell module of claim  10 , wherein the grooves separating the front electrode layers and the grooves separating the photovoltaically active layers are the same width.